tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1876483501412129772017-08-23T16:37:08.361-04:00CT ScenicWe Totally Live HereCT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.comBlogger585125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-50665621598324822652012-05-14T23:17:00.000-04:002013-09-13T17:48:48.915-04:00WTF is the Operative Cake Distributor Truck?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSNqKVu_Rrc/T7HKNKFJrqI/AAAAAAAAAxY/6bOQ6qsCZ0M/s1600/caketruck1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSNqKVu_Rrc/T7HKNKFJrqI/AAAAAAAAAxY/6bOQ6qsCZ0M/s320/caketruck1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So mysterious. So yellow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0Vd68pd-_4/T7HKYH51IwI/AAAAAAAAAxg/fmD-ijdL3oQ/s1600/caketruck2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0Vd68pd-_4/T7HKYH51IwI/AAAAAAAAAxg/fmD-ijdL3oQ/s320/caketruck2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Agent Snackle Mouth? This is Operative Cake Distributor. 10-4"</div>CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-15335482968347100852012-05-14T21:59:00.000-04:002012-05-14T22:02:40.848-04:00Coming out post: I like Girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lm-XUF8TVkA/T7Gyk19pQOI/AAAAAAAAArs/b3mspaleBaI/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lm-XUF8TVkA/T7Gyk19pQOI/AAAAAAAAArs/b3mspaleBaI/s320/girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm talking about <a href="http://www.hbo.com/girls/index.html" target="_blank">the HBO show</a> of course! Since I am so guilt-wracked over letting my blog (this blog) die, and because I spend 40 hours a week in a cubicle typing furiously (but not <i>about </i>anything), I haven't been keeping up with the computer screen and its magical media commentary content the way I used to... Oh! Also because all the Gawker family blogs totally suck now, like Jezebel, the blog that used to be edgy and feminist and now posts articles like "<a href="http://jezebel.com/5893469/your-pushy-coworkers-might-be-making-you-fat" target="_blank">are your fat co-workers making you fat</a>?" But hey, let's not digress. I'm talking about how I haven't kept up with every piece of media criticism, but Girls sure seems to be lightning rod for bullshit critiques that I take exception to.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course I'm a little jealous of youthful writer/director/star <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/lena-dunham,69373/" target="_blank">Lena Dunham</a>, who managed to string all her weird shit into <a href="http://tinyfurniture.com/" target="_blank">a film</a> and now a hilarious high-profile TV show about young women who remind me of actual people I might have encountered in my time as an actual writer in Hartford and a wannabe writer, adult intern and odd-jobber in New York City. But all I've got to show for it is this blog, that I don't even write.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VJt2O2VRj0s" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a not very revealing trailer!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maybe it is kind of a niche market - a self-conscious comedy/drama for the over-educated, under-employed children of relative privilege. But <a href="http://jezebel.com/5903382/why-we-need-to-keep-talking-about-the-white-girls-on-girls" target="_blank">the criticisms</a> that the show is too white, or too white to be set in New York, or that the characters are unsympathetic, or unsympathetic because they've grown up privileged ring false to me. Is a racial diversity, parental wealth or likability of the protagonist truly the barometer for quality? No, that would be stupid, and nobody believes that anyway. I could name a zillion "exceptions" - many aired on the same channel - but that would be like conceding that there's a point. I think this is just part of an overall pattern of a culture whose masses by and large, enlightened as they may think they are, just aren't ready to let women be clever in the same way that men can be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So let me talk about why this show is wonderful. Because it's smart enough to acknowledge its debt (or surface resemblence ) to Sex and the City in its very dialogue, while offering a down-to-earth counterpoint to <i>that</i> program about how truly non-glamorous it can be to try and cultivate a writing career and a cavalier approach to your sex life in NYC (or anywhere!).&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because even as it's characters are indeed obnoxious in their sense of entitlement, it's self-aware enough to show them as relatively incompetent. To me there is nothing funnier than the irony of being intellectually sophisticated enough to remark that men are <i>wont </i>to leave their penises inside you after sex, but socially retarded enough to make a date rape joke at a job interview that's going really well. The writing is really sharp. Tempered of course by the crass subject matter. But who can't appreciate a girl who wants to differentiate between "looking like a piggy bank" and "feeling like a piggy bank" during doggy-style? Well, probably people who actually can't appreciate that difference.&nbsp; People who have never "hate-read" a book. (I have hate-read so much YA fiction while house-sitting it's not even funny.) I identify so heavily with the humor style on this show, I find myself nearly memorizing each episode on first viewing, and shocked that anyone could think less of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To those who think the show is just too frivolous, I'm sorry they can't appreciate the rather awesome feat of taking a subject that <i>is </i>serious, and that nobody likes to talk about or handle well on TV - like STD testing and anxiety about AIDS for the "hook-up" generation - and takes it pretty seriously in the same episode with a bunch of crude jokes. Like when Hannah has her legs spread, feet-in-the-stirrups verbal diarrhea about how maybe HIV wouldn't be so bad and perhaps it's just what she's always wanted, that <i>isn't</i> the takeaway message (the gyno rightly calls her back to reality, btw). It's like when I joke about how I'll probably spend my retirement eating catfood quesadillas. Not because I'm being capricious about poverty and people who have to eat cat food <i>now</i>, but because realistically I probably am going to have a dead-end career path even though I'm smart and have great work ethic and watch my relative income slip downward over the years and die a spinster while economic justice goes un-served so I better just get used to the idea and pretend to like it because it's what's outside that counts. Ha! Tragedy + time, babies!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Watch Girls on Sunday nights. Or watch Mad Men on Sunday nights and watch Girls on demand or on your iPhone some other time! I hope that next season they had to move home but still try to have hipster adventures and keep the dream alive in the old stomping grounds they maybe thought they were too cool for this season. </div><br />Katie Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17576867232089373600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-4371567277569304822012-05-13T18:45:00.002-04:002012-05-13T18:46:38.646-04:00What's hot at the Lot: Snackle Mouth<a href="http://snacklemouth.com/" target="_blank">Snackle Mouth</a> granola nut clusters @ <a href="http://oceanstatejoblot.com/home/default.aspx" target="_blank">The Lot</a> in Bloomfield<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XALyDLWsZoI/T7A4gxDSIZI/AAAAAAAAAxM/Tkk1TEJxKmU/s1600/Snackleface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XALyDLWsZoI/T7A4gxDSIZI/AAAAAAAAAxM/Tkk1TEJxKmU/s320/Snackleface.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Struggling doughnut model Katie Scenic&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">looks to broaden her horizons</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Even in our prime as a blog, we eventually let our feature "What's hot at the Lot" slide. Not because we weren't making purchases at Ocean State Job Lot anymore, but because our purchases had mostly become so mundane and repetitive (much like our grownup jobs, ugh).&nbsp; Also the Lot has never thanked us or offered us freebees. But our initial attraction to the Lot was always as much about trying new weird snacks as it was about getting slightly to dramatically good deals on household items.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On a recent visit we were drawn to the garish, slightly frightening packaging for Snackle Mouth, a "granola nut clusters" snack from Colorado whose packaging boasts of small time roots ("developed by 3 guys named John") and wholesome ingredients. The scary box (huh-huh) is reason enough to buy it once. The delicious taste, which is like buttery, sweet granola, with less crunch than a cereal but not as chewy as a cookie, keeps bringing us back. We've much enjoyed the Almond Maple Pecan and Almond Berry varieties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We love the wacky snackle-man illustration, with his dripping gooey complexion, crazy eyes, nutty lesions and jaunty pot leaf Hitler 'stache. But we do fear this might be off-putting to less perverse consumers. We hope it won't keep you from enhancing your life and your diet. </div>CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-56138067756379049792012-05-10T18:40:00.000-04:002012-05-10T18:40:03.916-04:00Got Room?!Saturday, May 12: <a href="http://www.theroommovie.com/" target="_blank">The Room</a> @ <a href="http://www.realartways.org/">Real Art Ways</a>, Hartford<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMBbL9A-wN4/T6xCFO6PGnI/AAAAAAAAAxA/It9dfDDTX_c/s1600/the-room.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMBbL9A-wN4/T6xCFO6PGnI/AAAAAAAAAxA/It9dfDDTX_c/s320/the-room.png" width="245" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>WTF?!,</i> right?</div><br />Here at CT Scenic we like to go both ways. If we can't see a really good film, we'll just as eagerly embrace a truly terrible one - whether it's <a href="http://billzebub.com/" target="_blank">Bill Zebub</a>'s latest masterpiece (we totally know him) or The Human Centipede (Haha, remember <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/08/human-centipede-experience.html" target="_blank">that?</a> How is it possible we don't have a Human Centipede tag? Someone's been asleep at the blog, obvi). And remember how The Human Centipede took forever to get to Hartford? Well, The Room took even longer. Like ten years longer. <i>Exponentially</i> longer! Because it's exponentially better! Or is it worse?<br /><br />Widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made, The Room has been embraced by the ironic hipster masses in Rocky Horror fashion as a participatory event to relive again and again in the theater (with cat calls, props and costumes encouraged). Here's a <a href="http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/12/09/the-room-movie-schedule-viewing-guide/" target="_blank">helpful guide</a> for newbies. The film has also&nbsp; inspired many a youtube auteur - much to the fury of the <i>f<span class="st"><em>ü</em></span>hrer</i>:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w59fZNDTMAg" width="420"></iframe> <br /><br />Come and experience the artless direction, the inexplicable dialogue, the graphic, gratuitous lovemaking, the ill-fitting suits, the quickly forgotten cancer, the betrayal, the possibly retarded neighbor kid, the exquisite panning shots of the Golden Gate Bridge, and a wealth of other goodies for yourselves.<br /><br />We'll be there, for our second time. Because second is the best, and because Real Art Ways begged us to post about it and invited us as special guests, and we pretty much just roll over for free stuff and validation from our favorite elite culture venue.CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-77371289608028987842012-02-21T11:43:00.004-05:002012-02-21T12:01:31.792-05:00Black Mariah Film and Video Festival<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TUDS0cTnqFA/T0PNPeXdX8I/AAAAAAAAAJE/WfXgXyA_Z50/s1600/Black_Maria.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TUDS0cTnqFA/T0PNPeXdX8I/AAAAAAAAAJE/WfXgXyA_Z50/s400/Black_Maria.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711634418169110466" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />West Hartford, CT - Once again the University of Hartford hosts the Black Mariah Film and Video festival.<br /><br />Black Mariah is a traveling festival, screening at many locations throughout the USA, plus a few choice international showings.<br /><br />The screening take place tonight, Tuesday 2/21/2012 and tomorrow Wednesday 2/22/2012. The films are showing in Wilde auditorium at 7:30pm. Different films are shown each night, so consider coming to both.<br /><br />Special props go to Prof Gene Gort who has kept this festival coming back to Uha for longer than he probably cares to admit.<br /><br />This has been DH Scenic reporting.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > </span>DH Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03180398392166542558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-89757127791833975442012-02-15T21:59:00.004-05:002012-02-15T23:20:06.487-05:00How'dya like him now?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JumA3BuWnbI/Tzx_1hoDJbI/AAAAAAAAAI0/q9yRiY4Ft-w/s1600/dan%2Bmalloy%2Bmarch%2B25-thumb-297x461.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JumA3BuWnbI/Tzx_1hoDJbI/AAAAAAAAAI0/q9yRiY4Ft-w/s400/dan%2Bmalloy%2Bmarch%2B25-thumb-297x461.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709578985135089074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br />Waaaayyyyy back in August 2010<span style="font-family:courier new;">, this blog <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-like-ned.html">endorsed</a> Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary that would determine who would battle to become the next guv'nor of CT. We all know how well that worked out, although we found the several comments from Malloy's blog police somewhat entertaining.<br /><br />And so it went, back to the daily grind for us at Scenic HQ. And then it started.<br /><br />To be honest, whoever was unlucky enough to land in the governors seat would not have an easy job, due to chronic mismanagement by the previous occupants Rell and Rowland.<br /><br />First it was some easily ignored news articles (I think we were hung over). Then facebook posts about how it was a shame the <a href="http://www.wethersfield.net/html/gov/ct/rhill/ferry/ferry-info.html">Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry</a> was going to be closed (a last minute deal averted the shutdown of the oldest operating ferry in the USA<span style="font-family:courier new;">). Once again, after a momentary sigh, I told myself, well, tough times, we can't be so sentimental, stiff upper lip old chap.<br /><br />Unfortunately as time has gone on, the chorus against Malloy has gotten louder. And not just the right side wingnutz you'd expect to oppose any Democrat. For example, competing (you did vote for us in the Hartford Advocate reader's poll, didn't you) blogger Colin McEnroe wrote <a href="http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-mcenroe-malloy-toasts-himself-out-to-fix-sch-20120212,0,6420958.column">this column</a> calling out Malloy on his recent state of the state address (the end of the column points out the hypocrisy in the potential teachers salary negotiations after giving eyebrow rising concessions to state workers).<br /><br />But what I read a couple of hours ago really takes the cake.<br /><br />Malloy is <a href="http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-arts-funding-cuts-0216-20120215,0,2051086.story">ZEROING OUT</a> all arts organization funding (about $11 million) as of July 1!!!! That is right in the middle of the year, in case you didn't notice. Arts organizations, who carefully considered their budgets this year counting on the funds, are now left high and dry (well maybe not so high). The administration claims the organizations can "compete" for funding, although no details on any aspect of this competition can currently be provided.<br /><br />Strangest part is the announcement of $10 million to be dumped into advertising the state in order to attract more tourists. Which leaves me to wonder what are those tourists going to do when they get here?<br /><br />More importantly what are the Scenics going to do without a robust arts scene? Sex, drugs and rock n roll gets kinda boring after a time (actually, total lie, it never gets old).<br /><br />After taking all the above into careful consideration, I have decided to do the only thing I can at this time:<br /><br />This blog officially endorses Ned Lamont for Governor. If he decides to run again (it wouldn't surprise me if wanted to be done with elected office here).<br /><br />Per his Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500058933">page</a> Ned just returned from Egypt and Tunis, and will be giving a talk at CCSU on February 28 in Vance 105. Topics will include the Arab Spring uprisings and the situation in Syria.<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br style="font-family: courier new;"></span></span>DH Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03180398392166542558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-13580654093586768302012-02-13T12:26:00.002-05:002012-02-13T12:35:24.333-05:00Burlesque-Paris StyleWe all know the French are renown as the worlds best lovers, but what about their burlesque chops? They claim to be the best, although CT has Dot Mitzvah and Kitty Katastrophe (two of CT Scenic's faves). Who's right? We're about to find out, our friends at RAW are bringing the documentary Crazy Horse to us, screening on March 2. Check out this too sexy for youtube trailer while you still can.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pfLqvgWmCb8" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>DH Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03180398392166542558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-83002966154354815352012-02-06T21:32:00.002-05:002012-02-06T21:35:11.005-05:00By the way...In case you've been wondering "What's going on with the blog?"<div><br /></div><div>It's not you, it's us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sincerely,</div><div><br /></div><div>The Scenics</div>DH Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03180398392166542558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-8706955109676589072012-02-06T16:34:00.003-05:002012-02-06T16:47:04.155-05:00The Onion Strikes AgainThe Scenics tend to like everything dark and sarcastic. So, we were delighted a few months back with this <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/planned-parenthood-opens-8-billion-abortionplex,20476/">gem</a> from our favorite news source.<br /><br />Well it turns out that a certain someone (Rep. John Fleming, R-La., of course) thought it was real, posting it on his <a href="http://literallyunbelievable.org/post/17153265749/how-exactly-did-you-get-elected">facebook page</a> in order to stir up the rage of his constituents.DH Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03180398392166542558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-87016966233159287672011-07-24T16:22:00.010-04:002011-07-24T18:53:43.898-04:00So, about that new Rudy'sIts about time we checked out the <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-haven-hipster-venue-drama.html">new Rudy's</a> in their new location, which opened on the corner of Chapel and Howe a few months ago, just a few blocks away from their old location, which we now know as <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/01/about-that-elm-bar.html">Elm Bar</a>. I'm not sure what we were expecting to walk into, but totally experienced a moment of shock and confusion as we took in the large, clean, newly painted, and did I mention CLEAN landscape of the bar and restaurant area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FB5WSjSSPE8/TiyDhiHR4MI/AAAAAAAAAGs/Jf-drhxjjEY/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FB5WSjSSPE8/TiyDhiHR4MI/AAAAAAAAAGs/Jf-drhxjjEY/s320/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633021846049906882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />(Pardon the crappy pics, the Scenic with the good cellphone camera was busy last night, probably sexting)<br /><br />The stark contrast to the dark, dingy, carved up little dive bar that is associated with the name Rudy's was a little disorienting at first, but we found that many of the old tabletops and wood panels, with years of initials lovingly and deeply etched in, had been preserved and put into the back room. It certainly is spacious; the front room, where is bar is located, is clean and restaurant-y, and the back room has a teensy bit of old Rudy's nostalgia.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hM4dZP-36ts/TiyFmHCCLfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/4Au9BzWVdjI/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hM4dZP-36ts/TiyFmHCCLfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/4Au9BzWVdjI/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633024123702750706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The entertainment for the evening was a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=lf#%21/groups/221461047879746">handsome dude DJ team </a>doing what a friend described to us as a "<a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/04/shag-frenzy-is-back.html">Shag Frenzy-esque</a>" dance night, which is just getting off the ground and hoping to become a regular monthly fixture. The music was fun, and I can't claim to be hipster enough to recognize most of it, but did enjoy dancing to Crystal Castles, Ladytron, Talking Heads, Franz Ferdinand, and the Ting Tings. They had this really sexy lightning lamp on their table!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsjcRAWBLlI/TiyHAGh2apI/AAAAAAAAAG8/m3GNiZIpo-Q/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsjcRAWBLlI/TiyHAGh2apI/AAAAAAAAAG8/m3GNiZIpo-Q/s320/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633025669755988626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My first drink was this tiny little thing for $6.50, but I quickly wised up and asked for a taller glass for my next, um, 5.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSi4gRlaIGo/TiyHhobAGgI/AAAAAAAAAHE/q-DzGlikn98/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSi4gRlaIGo/TiyHhobAGgI/AAAAAAAAAHE/q-DzGlikn98/s320/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633026245789751810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I saw lots of people enjoying fancy beers in interesting looking glasses, and for those of you who care, the <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/03/elm-bar-youre-on-notice.html">Guinness cost $5.50</a>. Although Rudy's now has a full kitchen, I failed to see a menu laying around or anyone really eating food, except for the fries and a few people eating salads at the bar. Its like, its Rudy's, but Rudy's plus... wearing fancy pants... with a bathroom that is not totally scary and gross.Laura Fitzscenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13668418729841949241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-29626748633110432622011-07-07T16:04:00.006-04:002011-07-07T16:59:49.585-04:00Compete For Our Affections FridayFriday, June 8<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=lf#%21/event.php?eid=173447932717641">Rhythm and Juke Blues Jumpup II</a> @ <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/vegas-boulevard-pizza-restaurant-hartford">Vegas Blvd</a></span></span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5F5qKjtg-YQ" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br />All four Scenics gave unanimous and enthusiastic approval for <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/04/brownbird-back-again.html">Part I back in April</a>, and are looking forward to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/brownbirdrudyrelic">Brownbird Rudy Relic</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/daddylonglegs314">Daddy Longlegs</a>, <a href="http://www.diablodimesmusic.com/">Diablo Dimes</a> and <a href="http://www.orbmellon.com/Site/ORB_MELLON.html">Orb Mellon</a>'s encore performance at <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/03/vague-ass-open-mic.html">our favorite Hartford hipster dive</a>. Hartford has a lot of love for Rudy Relic's steel guitar performances, complete with physical stunts such as leaping through the air, rolling on the ground, dancing on his chair, and jumping right over people's heads while playin' the blues (and can do this without accidentally teabagging anyone, <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/07/men-inc-we-totall-went-there.html">like the stripper from last Friday's outing</a>).<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214819538558541">Live Band Karaoke</a> @ <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/coachs-sports-bar-and-grille-hartford">Coach's Bar and Grill</a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9641YY4yGNc/TbYXGJ4xJWI/AAAAAAAAAvs/OkvXnqdVEyQ/s400/karaokebandwith.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9641YY4yGNc/TbYXGJ4xJWI/AAAAAAAAAvs/OkvXnqdVEyQ/s400/karaokebandwith.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We're thrilled that our friends <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/03/bandwith-karaoke-hardest-working-live.html">Bandwith Karaoke</a> have found a Hartford home and will be kicking off their monthly gigs at Coach's. Yes, we will brave the douchestrict to watch friends and strangers live out their rock n' roll fantasies onstage, karaoke style, and maybe we will be so brave that we get onstage ourselves. Get there early to sign up!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000546730740&amp;ref=ts#%21/event.php?eid=180213615365894">Wry and The Sweet Ones</a> @ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elm-Bar/177618255612262?sk=info">Elm Bar</a><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ffsZwdE2WMo" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br />We have it on good authority that Elm Bar is the place to be some top-notch rock n' roll entertainment tomorrow, from CT-based <a href="http://wrymusic.bandcamp.com/">Wry</a> and Brooklyn (as in NY, not CT)-based <a href="http://thesweetones.bandcamp.com/album/big-mistakes">The Sweet Ones</a>. According to what we've heard from these bands so far, this seems to be the case, and you can't beat the $3 pricetag and now, thanks to us, <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/03/elm-bar-youre-on-notice.html">new lower prices on the Guinness!</a>Laura Fitzscenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13668418729841949241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-23827509432515149552011-07-03T09:52:00.006-04:002011-07-03T11:14:27.295-04:00Men, Inc.: We totally went there<div style="text-align: justify;">The other Scenics have really gone out of their way to help celebrate my "Birthday Week," starting Friday night with a surprise night out at the all-male revue - CT-based <a href="http://www.menincorporated.org/index.html">Men, Inc.</a>, doing their monthly-or-so gig at our favorite downtown bar, <a href="http://www.uporontherocks.com/">Up or On the Rocks</a> (really, it's totally our favorite). We've joked about checking one of these things out for ages. Now we've finally been there. The other Ladies Scenic had wanted to plan a party with my very own private stripper, but that was going to be overly expensive and complicated venue-wise. We're all glad it worked out this way though. I mean, we've all had personal attention from a naked dude before. The gaggle of <span style="font-style: italic;">other</span> scantily clad drunk broads and the <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/10/dispatches-from-douchestrict-downtown.html">douchestrict</a> setting were what really put the night over the top for us.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VLJdwAjblfQ/ThCAIFCpSyI/AAAAAAAAArQ/G_7ysK1q5rM/s1600/chris-farley-chippendales.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625136810866330402" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VLJdwAjblfQ/ThCAIFCpSyI/AAAAAAAAArQ/G_7ysK1q5rM/s320/chris-farley-chippendales.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 280px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />The Scenics are not exactly the target demographic for these kinds of shenanigans, since nothing is really taboo or off-limits in our minds, and our actual sex lives are so incredibly hot and kinky... But how about a little recognition and respect where it's due - it was fun and different to see a bevvy of dudes with rock hard, outrageously muscled, impeccably groomed bodies. This being America, it's hard enough finding a non-obese body to enjoy. We get the odd skinny guy now and then - you know, that guy who eats and eats and eats and never gains any weight? But he's no stunner with his shirt off, just scrawny, amiright? Nevertheless, we ultimately concluded that although we liked their bodies and appreciate all the work they obviously put into them, we didn't really care for what they were actually doing with them.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx7FLpT7pQs/ThCB6nazgSI/AAAAAAAAAro/mG08ZwMMIlA/s1600/monty.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625138778599555362" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx7FLpT7pQs/ThCB6nazgSI/AAAAAAAAAro/mG08ZwMMIlA/s320/monty.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 213px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />Their costumes were very "<a href="http://www.burningangel.com/store/76/not-another-porn-movie-porn-movies">Not Another Porn Movie</a>," starting with the Sexy Police Officer, and their moves included a lot of weirdly feminine lapdance-style gyrations. The other thing they kept doing was getting chicks on stage into awkward positions on stage and dry humping them, which just seemed kind of embarrassing for all involved. We were impressed with the athleticism of the dancer known as The Main Event, who did vaults and handsprings to end up with his crotch in various gals' faces and laps. Amazingly, no one was injured, though one girl looked a bit chagrined when his scrotum grazed her scalp. If any of us tried to to anything like that, there would have been ankles sprained and teeth everywhere. Yet much as we admired these maneuvers, it was just kind of weird and icky when he put that one big-ish girl down like the base of a cheerleading pyramid and lined some other slags up on top of her and gleefully switch-hit dry-humped them all.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBK85qd1kLQ/ThCAJFIU7JI/AAAAAAAAArg/hLdH_eFkAiY/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625136828070030482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBK85qd1kLQ/ThCAJFIU7JI/AAAAAAAAArg/hLdH_eFkAiY/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a><br />Always sensitive to the feelings of others, I let the fellas know that we were "mostly into chicks" - a slight deviation from reality. This only made them work my lap (and Jackie's!) twice as hard, which was cute. I was particularly partial to this hunk of manflesh - he's the rock n roll one.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cutuBtiCs9M/ThCAIsg801I/AAAAAAAAArY/acJLxStaK20/s1600/14.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625136821462422354" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cutuBtiCs9M/ThCAIsg801I/AAAAAAAAArY/acJLxStaK20/s320/14.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 198px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />Without delving too deeply into stereotypes about sex and gender, let it suffice to say that there is a difference between the all-male revue and the "gentlemen's club," and a reason why the all-male revue must subsist on monthly club nights and private gigs, but the gentlemen's club is open daily. The goal for most of the attendees for Men, Inc. seemed to be to relish the embarrassment of their friends - no so much to actually get off on the proceedings. When the guys came around to lap dance and "let it all hang out" (I'll never wash that Ed Hardy shirt again!) all the ladies in the vicinity had out their camera phones to shamelessly capture their friends in the act, and this was totally all right with the guys! But hey, with a body like that, may as well get those pictures out there! That's been my governing theory lately anyway.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.menincorporated.org/seeuslive.html">Check out Men, Inc. live around CT!</a></div>Katie Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17576867232089373600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-18906754168509954532011-07-02T11:54:00.004-04:002011-07-02T11:57:21.807-04:00Oddities<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vSzDWdpqkc/Tg8_ckOrR8I/AAAAAAAAAek/Asy3kAKBEpo/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vSzDWdpqkc/Tg8_ckOrR8I/AAAAAAAAAek/Asy3kAKBEpo/s400/IMG_0607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624784219603158978" border="0" /></a><br />Um, what?Jackie Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373526578367274506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-62386305106972434382011-06-30T15:18:00.005-04:002011-07-03T15:42:37.762-04:00The Totes Horny RoundupCT Scenic has been consistent and efficient in providing you dear readers with solid recommendations on local music, food, arts culture, and nightlife (well, maybe not recently... this Scenic has personally been busy kicking off the summer with a good old fashioned bender, my bad!), but one area of content that has been glaringly absent is the seedy underbelly of Connecticut! So, here is the scenic guide to CT's perviest places, and stuff to do when you're totes horny.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Adult Films.</span> People are often surprised to find out that old fashioned adult movie houses still exist, and even more surprised to hear that we have one right here in Hartford. 3/4 of Team Scenic have actually been to the <a href="http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1637">Art Cinema</a>; not with debaucherous intentions, but to watch a <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/11/disappointment-at-burly-q.html">burlesque documentary</a> as part of the Hartford Film Festival. We didn't care for the movie, but were quite taken by the scenery of the rundown movie house, the porn film canisters laying about, and the general air of sleaze. And the fun doesn't stop there, oh no! Connecticut is actually home to two adult theaters, the other being the <a href="http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/oct/09/lonely-men-in-a-lonely-theater/">Fairmount</a> in East Haven.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Swingers.</span> We are aware that Hartford has an <a href="http://www.leisuretime-club.com/">onsite swinger's club,</a> located in a nondescript building in a shady neighborhood, that you've probably driven by a bunch of times without even realizing the pervery that goes on in there. Team Scenic is not, at this time, able to give you any kind of investigative reporting on this joint, but according to their website, they have a kickass buffet.<br /><br />Ok, tangent, just for a moment? I've always been slightly disturbed by the <a href="http://local.yahoo.com/info-10535276-kahoots-showgrill-east-hartford">Kahoots</a> tagline: Lunch with a View. The thought of enjoying a turkey club while staring at a naked woman humping the floor for dollars just seems so... ew. And now, I wonder about these swingers lining up to serve themselves some baked ziti and garlic bread in the middle of reenacting a scene from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula_%28film%29">Caligula</a>. Are they naked at the buffet? Did the owners install genital guards as well as sneeze guards?<br /><br />And oh yeah, speaking of strip clubs! A little piece of trivia: you are not allowed to wear <a href="http://www.superlula.com/">SuperScenic glasses</a> in <a href="http://goldclubgirls.com/">The Gold Club</a>. Why? We don't know! Sometimes you just know to keep your mouth shut and take off your damn glasses when the man tells you to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Motels.</span> The Berlin Turnpike is pretty much the go-to for any kind of motel sleaze you're looking for; there are plenty of pay by the hour rooms with huge mirrors, themed rooms such as the exotic Jungle Room (grr!). Actually, The Berlin Turnpike is probably 80% sleazy motels.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Si83cB4iWQ/Tg48_ljjyHI/AAAAAAAAAGk/TMzfh_cD9ZU/s1600/grantm.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 121px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Si83cB4iWQ/Tg48_ljjyHI/AAAAAAAAAGk/TMzfh_cD9ZU/s320/grantm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624500047743010930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Adult Stores.</span> Well, they're all over the damn place. Perhaps you even have one of those superstores in your town, and the townsfolk got all enraged when they found out about it. A successful chain in CT is VIP, and when I was there the other day, you know- doing research, I was disappointed to see that they no longer carry my favorite ill-advised adult novelty, The Fist. Literally, its a big rubber arm and fist.<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&amp;ct=img&amp;q=http://www.pinkrabbitshop.com/images/offers/big/5022.jpg&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=yjoOTo73D8Pd0QGr-tmtDg&amp;ved=0CAQQ8wc&amp;usg=AFQjCNHawd1TkOfn8_lejCvBxRAoxu6kaQ"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&amp;ct=img&amp;q=http://www.pinkrabbitshop.com/images/offers/big/5022.jpg&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=yjoOTo73D8Pd0QGr-tmtDg&amp;ved=0CAQQ8wc&amp;usg=AFQjCNHawd1TkOfn8_lejCvBxRAoxu6kaQ" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We're sure there's much more where this came from, and don't be too shy to tell us about what goes on in your freaky little town. CT Scenic: dedicated to culturally well-rounded journalism!Laura Fitzscenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13668418729841949241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-24506429645709598462011-06-25T23:08:00.000-04:002011-06-25T23:08:36.035-04:00Mrs. Murphy's: out-of-state indie donuts<div style="text-align: justify;">Last month <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-call-that-donut-best-i-ever-had.html">Katie Scenic had the best donuts ever</a> at Dough in Brooklyn, NY; last week, Katie and Jackie followed up on a hot tip from a coworker and crossed another CT border to try <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&amp;sugexp=emsp&amp;xhr=t&amp;cp=14&amp;qe=bXJzLiBtdXJwaHkncyA&amp;qesig=AyunKj8hBZY09uNmOYTAJw&amp;pkc=AFgZ2tlKVrind0uFhcnqAE37rr2O9_iQmwOxj8UN___Btv16GJjYq7EqXCb8mEkKELbUm9RUrxoq4SRv4N4Gu-IanUQZmaFbiQ&amp;pq=mrs.+murphy%27s&amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&amp;biw=1001&amp;bih=554&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;q=mrs.+murphy%27s+donuts&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=mrs.+murphy%27s+donuts&amp;hnear=0x89e7ac8afecd413f:0x56bb70d1d5a158a6,West+Hartford,+CT&amp;cid=4827474909729111289">Mrs. Murphy's</a> donuts in Southwick, MA (which is only like 20 miles from headquarters, so no big deal... we've been this far for donuts before).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-joFejMV0GsE/TgahZJNAGTI/AAAAAAAAAw0/jb73GWRDT6g/s1600/mrsmurphys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-joFejMV0GsE/TgahZJNAGTI/AAAAAAAAAw0/jb73GWRDT6g/s320/mrsmurphys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Scenics were joined by Vet Tech Gene and professional ice cream model Dayna (you may remember her from <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/04/abby-dabby-wed-totally-live-there.html">our post about delicious Abby Dabby</a> ice cream in West Hartford), who happened to hit it off over their shared exotic hobby, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poi_%28performance_art%29">spinning poi</a>. Everyone in the crew shared an interest in donuts. Alas, it was mid afternoon on a Sunday, so Mrs. Murphy's was sold out of jellies and creams, with only the plainer varieties - crullers, glazes, cinnamon - left. The donuts were huge, which is a good start.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3oy80vy3rg/Tgag9e2NkZI/AAAAAAAAAwo/wgiMslGH7E4/s1600/donuteyejackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3oy80vy3rg/Tgag9e2NkZI/AAAAAAAAAwo/wgiMslGH7E4/s320/donuteyejackie.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dayna thought she'd try her hand at donut modeling.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7fqzIstYRU/TgahFfzmSPI/AAAAAAAAAws/CukQEhngCjE/s1600/daynadonut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7fqzIstYRU/TgahFfzmSPI/AAAAAAAAAws/CukQEhngCjE/s320/daynadonut.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is very clever - see, she's spelling "cool" with the glasses and the donut... But that's so literal. Strictly commercial stuff. Not everyone has what it takes to do donut editorial. But her work with ice cream is seriously edgy shit. There's a lot of nuance to food modeling. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2CTbe1-tdo4/TgahQ5Ij5NI/AAAAAAAAAww/ZhcSXo8TRe4/s1600/donut+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2CTbe1-tdo4/TgahQ5Ij5NI/AAAAAAAAAww/ZhcSXo8TRe4/s320/donut+garden.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The chocolate donuts were a particular hit - having a very subtle, not-too-sweet flavor. The cinnamon was a little dry and cakey for Scenic tastes (<a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/07/more-indie-donuts-lukes-of-avon.html">we've spoken of <i>donut purity</i></a> - our preference for a a fried dough-like texture and flavor). The iced coffee was rather terrible, but is available by the bucketful, if size is your thing. Speaking of size, Vet Tech Gene is new to the gang, but somehow guessed at our love of lowbrow humor and dick jokes. He hasn't even seen the blog, but he was blown away by the crullers and wanted to make sure we would let our readers know they were the biggest and thickest he/we'd ever seen - far superior to ordinary crullers in length and girth. "It's so unsatisfying when you just put it your mouth and it's all over in two bites." What a donut perv! He can come and eat donuts with us any time. In fact, we'll be sure and head back to Mrs. Murphy's real soon for some followup, because we can't truly assess the joint without trying the jellies. Right?!</div>CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-66224364724417457512011-06-25T22:13:00.000-04:002011-06-25T22:13:21.966-04:00There's more to being Pretend Boyfriends than just increasingly embarrassing blog posts<div style="text-align: justify;">We acknowledge the possibility that some of the bands we're <i>totes horny </i>for may find our affections a little embarrassing, or wish that we would talk more about their great music than their good looks - you know, the beautiful ones always want to be told they're smart, the smart ones want to be told they're beautiful. *YAWN* Anyway, we obviously think they're music is good if we're spending our time reviewing it and telling you to go to their shows. If you want to know what they <i>sound </i>like, click the god damn links. When we say<i> total package</i>, we mean total package.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhXC20BNKsc/TgaUAOePZII/AAAAAAAAAwk/R3RXr63_raM/s1600/blacktaxinewbrit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhXC20BNKsc/TgaUAOePZII/AAAAAAAAAwk/R3RXr63_raM/s400/blacktaxinewbrit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As esteemed members of the imaginary press, we take advantage of our band boys, demanding their free music, attempting to monopolize their attention at shows, asking them to pose for foolish pictures. And they are always so obliging! We give them blog support sure, but do any of you lazy bums even show up 99% of the time? Well, today we gave something back. Two of our pretend boyfriends from <a href="http://www.blacktaxi.com/">Black Taxi</a> found themselves stranded with a dead car in New Britain today en route from New Hampshire. Katie Scenic got the word from their publicist and immediately ditched her plans with her real-life friends to bail the guys out. (JK, she had no plans - seriously, Fitzscenic is out of town, DH had a gig, and Jackie was, like, scissoring or something.) She found the fellas lounging handsomely near the baseball field and delivered them to New Haven's Union Station. What an awesome fake girlfriend! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">What better excuse to start blogging after a month of dead air than to talk about what swell people we can be when we really want to. And one more time, here's Black Taxi:</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LY1esKkcKfg" width="425"></iframe><br />Somebody around here book these guys, eh?CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-78667676679593582522011-05-24T17:51:00.000-04:002011-05-24T17:51:30.052-04:00One night stand with a sexy out-of-towner<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.thebrightlightsocialhour.com/">The Bright Light Social Hour</a> @ <a href="http://www.uporontherocks.com/">Up or on the Rocks</a>, Hartford</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T_qv21l3ILU" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our facebook friends know we've been trying to get a buzz going for this Texas band that's swinging through town this Thursday. We caught wind of them because a.) they've been living out a van&nbsp; on tour and they smell and b.) they're friends of our Brooklyn boyfriends, <a href="http://www.blacktaxi.com/">Black Taxi</a>, who we were totally <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/08/brooklyn-in-hartford-black-taxi.html">hot for</a> at <i>their</i> Hartford debut. The Bright Light Social Hour fellas look and sound like damn good stuff, so we feel really lucky to catch them at a stage of their career when they don't just automatically skip Hartford (or <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/04/celebrity-sighting-at-whole-foods.html">only stop here for snacks</a>), which is why we've been pestering you all so hard to actually turn out for this one. Check out their <a href="http://www.thebrightlightsocialhour.com/music.html">whole album</a>&nbsp; - it's great!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NSRAVsHsJVQ/TdwlADOjWHI/AAAAAAAAAwg/j2KYhjaZ8Ns/s1600/BrightLightSocialHour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NSRAVsHsJVQ/TdwlADOjWHI/AAAAAAAAAwg/j2KYhjaZ8Ns/s320/BrightLightSocialHour.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're kind of out of touch with <i>genre</i>, but we're pretty sure they're hipsters (the pineapple is a dead giveaway). These days everything "cool" just sounds like the Rolling Stones in their disco phase to us. By which we mean classic but funky and danceable (these are good things). And oversexed - just look at that mustache!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hHET0wsuE3c/TdwkqEz1EXI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Cq5lOoqxZKw/s1600/brightlightjumping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hHET0wsuE3c/TdwkqEz1EXI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Cq5lOoqxZKw/s320/brightlightjumping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In deference to the short attention span and run-of-the-mill FB event invite fatigue we're sure you all experience, we've attempted to hook you by pairing this exciting band show with our first ever "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000546730740#%21/event.php?eid=130669233677659">Guerrilla Han Solo Bar,</a>" which will henceforth be Scenic code for something we extra especially think you should check out, even more than the other stuff we think is also worth your time. We assure you the Scenics and <i>at least</i> one other person that we know of will be there dressed as Han Solo (<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-biUY6Nm9xfo/TcSfrAbyQpI/AAAAAAAAAp8/kKwCQEUJIJI/s1600/hanscenic.JPG">sometimes we just dress like this anyway</a>). So of course we encourage you to get on that too. Because who doesn't enjoy shooting first, palling around with Wookies, and pairing a studly dark vest with an chest-baring pale shirt, amiright? </div>CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-44830822510063469892011-05-23T18:44:00.001-04:002011-05-23T18:45:51.736-04:00Hipstercana Wednesday: Sidewalk Dave & Elison Jackson<div style="text-align: justify;">Wednesday, May 25</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Elison Jackson, The Donkeys, Citay @ <a href="http://www.barnightclub.com/">BAR</a>, New Haven</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sidewalk Dave @ <a href="http://www.thehalfdoorhfd.com/">The Half Door</a>, Hartford</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qR3NJMHHdnM/TdrdKTSuZQI/AAAAAAAAAwY/FOnKE_Vg9eI/s1600/samelison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qR3NJMHHdnM/TdrdKTSuZQI/AAAAAAAAAwY/FOnKE_Vg9eI/s320/samelison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Competing-for-our-affection on a Wednesday? Guys, really?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We've seen <a href="http://elisonjackson.bandcamp.com/album/elison-jackson">Elison Jackson</a> twice, but both gigs were in private basements which we didn't feel comfortable telling you about (like anybody listens to us anyway...) and we liked them live even better than what we've heard of their recordings, which are nice and all, but don't quite convey Sam's delicate Thom Yorke/<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMyj8Bgvh9s">guy from a band you've never heard of</a>-esque vocal delivery or the chemistry of the current band lineup. So we're looking forward to their upcoming release, which is now in the works with that guy from <a href="http://mtbearington.bandcamp.com/">M.T. Bearington</a> <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/01/we-just-totally-met-this-guy-and-here.html">we met that one time</a>. We'd see them again, in a basement or wherever they may roam! In a box, with a fox, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Elison Jackson will be the local boys on a gig with Californians <a href="http://www.donkeysongs.com/">The Donkeys</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWyliKGoa-s">Citay</a>, who we are too lazy to check out in the context of a post about our CT hipstercana favs. This Wednesday night indie rock interlude is brought to you, as always, by <a href="http://manicproductions.org/">Manic Productions</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Do you ever notice how we plug the same stuff over and over again? That's on purpose. You want to know every crap thing going on at every club with no regard to quality or style? <a href="http://findlocal.hartfordadvocate.com/">That's somebody else's <i>actual job</i></a>. This is our <i>passion</i>, and there's only so much of it to go around. And there's only so many people of taste in the state. We can't be spreading <i>them</i> too thin either.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of passion, <a href="http://sidewalkdave.com/site/">Sidewalk Dave</a> returns this week for their monthly Half Door gig. They are celebrating their new EP release, <a href="http://sidewalkdave.bandcamp.com/album/cant-be-your-friend"><i>Can't be Your Friend</i></a> (which you can preview right there at the link). We're sufficiently turned on by Dave's explicit lyrical references to sexual acts and bloody dismemberment set to pleasant, jaunty indie/alt-country melodies, but have to admit to being less than enamored with this cover art.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtm-sXmCyQM/TdrbsrvpcaI/AAAAAAAAAwU/NSC4Ay4n8Es/s1600/cantbeyourfriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtm-sXmCyQM/TdrbsrvpcaI/AAAAAAAAAwU/NSC4Ay4n8Es/s320/cantbeyourfriend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(appetite for self-destruction)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We hope you appreciate the depth of artistic integrity it takes for us to unfavorably critique our favorite things - even just the CD cover. In point of fact, the Scenics have a well-documented history <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/12/we-leave-house-so-you-dont-have-to.html">in support of women disrobing</a> (and most recently, a song about a <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMU1anEgKqU">Disrober</a> - </i>we're all about that shit!), but this particular composition of vacant-eyed chicks as visual props just leaves us flat. It's also weirdly familiar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWtS6mLMwc0/TdrblldvusI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/PWVb_txv-kc/s1600/Picture+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWtS6mLMwc0/TdrblldvusI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/PWVb_txv-kc/s320/Picture+1+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(I think we've seen this movie too)</div>CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-54095930347753903332011-05-22T12:39:00.004-04:002011-05-22T14:09:46.506-04:00CT Metal: Rekindling the Romance<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhwfXNCTN0E/TdlMMnmuqNI/AAAAAAAAArE/fY9kywUygRQ/s1600/ipsissy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhwfXNCTN0E/TdlMMnmuqNI/AAAAAAAAArE/fY9kywUygRQ/s320/ipsissy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609598590540228818" border="0" /></a>(<a href="http://www.myspace.com/ipsissimususbm">Ipsissimus</a>)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I've mentioned <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/04/conflicted-about-steve-almond.html">time</a> and <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/05/ill-like-whatever-kimono-josh-tells-me.html">again</a>, I was a pretty seriously committed metalhead in my youth and young adulthood, and in an effort to be down I was willing to try really hard to get into all kinds of crap if it seemed <span style="font-style: italic;">trend-evil </span>enough. But now that I've branched out musically and I'm entering early Cougardom, it's a bit harder to get my meat up about new metal, the local scene in particular, being all too familiar with the pay-to-play tactics of some local clubs, which falsely elevates those bands with the nicest friends or most indulgent parents. I know peeps who will just get drunk and headbang to any old crap, but they probably have IQs less than 100 and I just can't get down like that. And sorry, death metal, you may be "technical," but you are are terrible at any volume. Show me the catchy riffs or go home.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tDGye_L7WE/TdlML_2aCpI/AAAAAAAAAq0/YEw16_0v31g/s1600/chrisbeard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tDGye_L7WE/TdlML_2aCpI/AAAAAAAAAq0/YEw16_0v31g/s320/chrisbeard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609598579868568210" border="0" /></a>(Nightbitch)<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />As you may have read here on CT Scenic, I've been pretty excited about CT stoner/metal band Treebeard ever since catching <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/01/about-that-elm-bar.html">their first gig</a> at then newly opened Elm Bar, and I thought they were just as great on a second viewing at the same venue. So when I saw that they were playing <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;q=cherry+street+station&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=cherry+street+station&amp;hnear=0x89e7ac8afecd413f:0x56bb70d1d5a158a6,West+Hartford,+CT&amp;cid=10247480305132351351">Cherry Street Station</a> with scene vet and all-the-way-back-t0-high-school pal Ryan's two bands, Ipsissimus and enticingly named <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Nightbitch">Nightbitch</a>, I thought this show had promise.<br /><br />And when I pulled up to the poorly marked club on a desolate industrial block by the train tracks in Wallingford, I knew I was in for a real treat. And when I observed the dirt cheap prices ($4 for Magic Hat!) and amazing back smoking yard, I mentally punished myself for never having been to this club before.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QmFF7Eoa0q8/TdlMMfqz6FI/AAAAAAAAAq8/s4fuutNQ4Lo/s1600/corruptingagardengnome.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QmFF7Eoa0q8/TdlMMfqz6FI/AAAAAAAAAq8/s4fuutNQ4Lo/s320/corruptingagardengnome.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609598588409866322" border="0" /></a>(Corrupting a garden gnome. Smoking is so cool.)<br /></div><br />Bygones. I was probably right. Most of those shows I opted not to drive 45 minutes to probably were indeed awful. But not this one! Nightbitch got this party started right. The three piece has "the guy from Treebeard" (and like 10 other bands - Chris) on drums and vocals, which is wicked impressive just by itself, and Ryan delivered all those catchy guitar riffs I was just craving. Their music is seriously good and reminded me of Danzig, but their not-so-serious, over-the-top evil song titles and perverted between-song banter, explaining that this song is about masturbation and that song is about werewolves fucking and whatnot really hit the spot (my g-spot, duh).<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EMU1anEgKqU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Next up was <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/deomega">De Omega</a>, featuring the bass player from Nightbitch (the theme of this show was Nightbitch and all the guys' from Nightbitch's other bands). They were described as "tech metal." They're all instrumental, which is inherently a bit less entertaining than sex/party metal, but they had some really lovely, dark atmospheric bits (as I might have said if I were writing metal journalism) and the bassist and guitarist were like nonstop tapping, which was giving all the young dudes in the crowd hella wood.<br /><br />I am automatically skeptical of new American black metal, because it sort of seems like a style that is maybe better left to a certain time and place (Norway, 80s/90s), but I'm gonna have to hand it to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ipsissimususbm">Ipsissimus</a> as well. It pains me to dole out such unadulterated praise about one night, but here again we had Ryan's being awesome on guitar at the heart of things, and the vocalist had a pretty killer rasp, and he made the most complicated banter comment about Nightbitch's set: "That band just did what your genitals were..." And I was like "huh?" and then totally got that he meant "ROCK HARD!" and it was the best thing ever, and I will never make fun of American guys for having black metal alteregos again.**<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-GhQ8yGPDOo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />I have to admit to being overcome by pumpkin syndrome and leaving around midnight, before Treebeard got around to playing. Sorry Treebeard! But I already knew I liked them, so 4/4 stars for this gig! Look out for Ipsissimus' brand new release, <a href="http://www.metalblade.com/ipsissimus/">The Way of Descent</a>, on Metal Blade Records. Treebeard will be playing a gig at Cafe Nine June 11, and Chris from Treebeard, who has perfected human cloning, will also be playing that same night with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/garbagebargeband">Garbage Barge</a>, who list GWAR as a primary influence and thus win my immediate good will - also at Cherry Street Station with for "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ipsissimususbm?ref=ts&amp;sk=wall#%21/event.php?eid=197650323601420">Garbage Barge's Birthday Masquerade</a>." We'll keep you posted about upcoming gigs from any of these fine bands as we hear about them. Check the FB for more sexy pics.<br /></div><br /><br />**LYING!Katie Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17576867232089373600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-36338118629475839972011-05-21T11:08:00.003-04:002011-05-21T12:04:23.975-04:00The Gay MoviesMay 26-June 4: <a href="http://www.outfilmct.org/">The Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival</a> @ <a href="http://www.cinestudio.org/">Cinestudio</a>, Hartford<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.outfilmct.org/images/2011-photos/FF24_image_333px.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 204px;" src="http://www.outfilmct.org/images/2011-photos/FF24_image_333px.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />First of all, we'd like to wish the film festival a very happy 24th birthday, and excluding only the <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/11/disappointment-at-burly-q.html">Hartford Art Cinema</a>, we couldn't think of a better venue to celebrate in than Trinity's lovely <a href="http://www.cinestudio.org/">Cinestudio</a>.<br /><a href="http://urbancompass.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/cinestudio.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 444px;" src="http://urbancompass.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/cinestudio.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From the looks of things on the festival's website, we can all look forward to a diverse offering of short and feature length queer films. We are particularly interested in a short from Canada, titled "5 Dysfunctional People in a Car", (which is one person away from being "Team Scenic in a Car") based on this description: <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A 43-year-old woman, her 21-year-old boyfriend, her unhappily married sister, an aging mother and a burgeoning lesbian niece take a ride into discontent one winter's afternoon. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />Then, there is another short titled "<a href="http://www.gaybyfilm.com/gayby.html">Gayby</a>" on Saturday, that comes with this disclaimer: <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Warning: this film contains an incredibly awkward sex scene.</span> Well, regardless of your sexual preference, <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2010/07/under-vagina-tea-leaf-ct-explained-at.html">we can all relate to that</a>.<br /><br />On the last day of the festival, there is a promising looking feature film called "<a href="http://www.embrem.com/lalaland/">Going Down in La La Land</a>" and we're not just saying that because of the strong possibility of hot male nudity- really! From what we got from the trailer, this looks like it may be one of the standouts of the festival, funny and intense.<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QyLw2QABtqw" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br />OH! And if you ACT NOW! (or very, very soon), you can get tickets at a discounted rate through <a href="http://www.groupon.com/deals/ct-gay-lesbian-film-festival">Groupon</a>. See you at the gay movies!Laura Fitzscenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13668418729841949241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-16794839388022432002011-05-21T02:13:00.004-04:002011-05-21T12:09:05.642-04:00Happy Crickle Day!Do you like made up holidays? Do you like inappropriate touching and gift giving? Awkward traditions? Well, we have something miraculous to tell you! Some friends of the blog recently clued us in to the word "crickle", a word that they invented as a hybrid of the words "creepy" and "tickle". Seriously, its on <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/author.php?author=Uncle+Teddie">urban dictionary</a>, so its totally valid and real. And, the first annual Crickle Day happens to be today, May 21st! We're told that this holiday should be celebrated by giving inappropriate gifts to your friends (box of latex gloves?), or maybe an outing at the <a href="http://goldclubgirls.com/">Gold Club</a> for a little bit o' holiday sleaze. Happy Crickle Day to one and all!Laura Fitzscenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13668418729841949241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-7128646308486614142011-05-19T23:28:00.000-04:002011-05-19T23:28:58.186-04:00Friends-of-the-blog compete-for-our-affections FridayFriday, May 20<br /><br /><a href="http://sidewalkdave.com/site/">Sidewalk Dave</a> @ <a href="http://www.thespace.tk/">The Outer Space</a>, Hamden<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XZyIShCtUJA" width="560"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(fake boyfriends of the blog celebrate their new release, <a href="http://sidewalkdave.bandcamp.com/album/cant-be-your-friend"><i>Girls, Girls Girls</i></a>) </div><br /><a href="http://www.blacktaxi.com/">Black Taxi </a>@ <a href="http://www.racknrollcafe.com/">Rack n Roll</a>, Stamford<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-EGAPjNlQP0" width="560"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(sexy out-of-town Brooklyn hipster boyfriends of the blog, hot off SXSW, etc.)</div><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/theninas">The Ninas</a> @ <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&amp;sugexp=ldymls&amp;xhr=t&amp;cp=14&amp;qe=YmFuayBzdHJlZXQgY2E&amp;qesig=eBGdWbAyzN-lyo2mpIUHXw&amp;pkc=AFgZ2tkJfaieVgCBSlc_sl9JElYSvFqTHKv2YbdlZZEslKbiL7YS2MfuRJ1uMQiFYxcRrAG2Jxjipz-qcsAvIbSV2C5zUuLmqA&amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;q=bank+street+cafe&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=bank+street+cafe&amp;hnear=0x89e7ac8afecd413f:0x56bb70d1d5a158a6,West+Hartford,+CT&amp;cid=11178231510919859791">Bank Street Cafe</a>, New London<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vsj4dYUqK0/TdXeBtnImJI/AAAAAAAAAwM/em4SthhgUNE/s1600/theninasplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vsj4dYUqK0/TdXeBtnImJI/AAAAAAAAAwM/em4SthhgUNE/s400/theninasplay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>("just good friends" - hey, Ninas, get your act together so we can be all lazy and just post youtube!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Terrible, awful, SEXY decisions! We feel just like Kelly Taylor.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hmCXlhiRU0/TdXc1YhGB0I/AAAAAAAAAwI/UpPe422hGUY/s1600/confused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hmCXlhiRU0/TdXc1YhGB0I/AAAAAAAAAwI/UpPe422hGUY/s320/confused.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Does anyone know where I can score some blow?)</div>CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-73096667611363895472011-05-19T19:06:00.003-04:002011-05-20T23:36:01.663-04:00Lunching in WoodburyOhhh Woodbury. You are slowly becoming my favorite CT town, and today may have just sealed the deal. With 2 hours to kill betwixt work appts, I wandered Route 6 in search of some entertainment. I headed for one of my fav indie natural food stores, <a href="http://www.newmorn.com/general/home.php">New Morning</a>, but instead pulled into the <a href="http://good-news-cafe.com/">Good News Cafe</a> to investigate. I hesitated in my car for a few, until the Meat Without Feet truck pulled up, and decided that was a sign to go in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ril26Bk4m1A/TdcqzkhMOQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/Wfk4mI3JbkM/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ril26Bk4m1A/TdcqzkhMOQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/Wfk4mI3JbkM/s400/IMG_0608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608998926377826562" border="0" /></a><br />I've been driving by this place for months, but the timing was just never right until now. The sign is a little confusing, partially why I hadn't ventured in yet. I mean, can I get a cup of coffee to go or what?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKrDTQ4UBec/Tdcq0upyrkI/AAAAAAAAAeY/rNyNp7wNWUM/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKrDTQ4UBec/Tdcq0upyrkI/AAAAAAAAAeY/rNyNp7wNWUM/s400/IMG_0613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608998946278125122" border="0" /></a> I kind of expected to walk into Tisane when I opened the door, and I wasn't too far off. The walls are covered in artwork - paintings, photos, a mural in the bar, some weird sculptures hanging from the ceiling; and there is a case housing some Bridgewater chocolates and other baked items.<br /><br />I sat at the bar, ogled some guy's martini, and perused the menu. A bit pricey, so I got the vegetarian-soup-of-the-day and some oysters. (I know. Weird.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvXd419ijqc/TdcqzyNdp-I/AAAAAAAAAeA/PUBr4EYzHeI/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvXd419ijqc/TdcqzyNdp-I/AAAAAAAAAeA/PUBr4EYzHeI/s400/IMG_0609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608998930053179362" border="0" /></a><br />The soup was some kind of kale, chickpea concoction that far exceeded my expectations of a veg soup. The oysters were.. yknow.. oysters. I chatted up one of the "regulars" sitting next to me who shared his abundant knowledge of the restaurant, the owner, and other sights to see in CT. Apparently this restaurant is often written up as the best restaurant in CT and is visited by celebs on route to their summer homes. (Swoon? Whatever.) The owner, Carole Peck, has been featured on Martha Stewart several times and just opened another restaurant literally across the parking lot, Zeeburger. Apparently it's the cat's pajamas. (Maybe I would have known any of this if I ever read other blogs?) Coincidentally, we love cheeseburgers this week, and can't wait to check that out. Bob, our new friend at the bar, explained how he helped shape the new burger place with his suggestions of putting syrup in the milkshakes, and cooking the burgers by request, not just guessing. He also suggested Heinz ketchup, but doesnt think Carole will go for it. She makes everything from scratch, no artificial-anything allowed.<br /><br />Here is Bob's coconut cake. He insisted that it be included:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c0JE919RNeg/Tdcq0Sp4erI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/B0blBb-1BA4/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c0JE919RNeg/Tdcq0Sp4erI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/B0blBb-1BA4/s400/IMG_0611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608998938762312370" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I still had 45 minutes to kill, so I went for round 2 - an iced cappuccino and a chocolate-peanut butter cookie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rYxlLpp8uKA/Tdcq0JZlMxI/AAAAAAAAAeI/DSaqjPJ1m9g/s1600/IMG_0610.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rYxlLpp8uKA/Tdcq0JZlMxI/AAAAAAAAAeI/DSaqjPJ1m9g/s400/IMG_0610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608998936278020882" border="0" /></a><br />Everything was just delightful. I would definitely come back, however, Zeeburger is next on my Woodbury agenda. Who knew there were amazing restaurants just sitting there on route 6 all this time? Not only is the food amazing, but the staff were friendly and willing to talk Bob and I through our lunches. The bartender, Michael, was both charming and informative. He told me about the Bethel Cinema, which used to be a porn theatre but now plays indie films. And some hiking trails nearby at something called Steep Rock. Looks like we have our work cut out for us in the-middle-of-nowhere, CT. Stay tuned.Jackie Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373526578367274506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-3035944171904143762011-05-17T15:03:00.000-04:002011-05-17T15:03:59.893-04:00Phallic Artistry at Elizabeth Park<div style="text-align: justify;">We haven't featured much <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/search/label/Penis%20I%20See">art that looks like a penis</a> here lately, have we? Hey, this sculpture at Hartford's <a href="http://www.elizabethpark.org/">Elizabeth Park</a> looks like whale peen! <a href="http://io9.com/5740767/what-does-a-menage-a-trois-between-whales-look-like">They're bendy</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8iMpodz8U8/TdLEsYsWfTI/AAAAAAAAAwE/DVRkrhozr-w/s1600/whalepeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8iMpodz8U8/TdLEsYsWfTI/AAAAAAAAAwE/DVRkrhozr-w/s320/whalepeen.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The lady Scenics observed this on an idyllic afternoon at the park recently, one of those Sundays when it wasn't raining. We're looking forward to the majesty of the <a href="http://www.tourismnewsinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Elizabeth-Park-in-Connecticut-USA.jpg">rose garden</a> (where we're all gonna gay-marry each other one day), and maybe taking the brunch shift at <a href="http://www.pondhousecafe.com/">The Pondhouse Cafe</a> some time soon. </div>CT Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13310959875320822744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187648350141212977.post-63368414289176576082011-05-17T12:43:00.004-04:002011-05-17T14:26:39.914-04:00Lucky - FOR YOU - I keep chatting up all these hot men<div style="text-align: justify;">I never get to talk to you all about the hottest rock n roll band on the planet, <a href="http://jroddywalstonandthebusiness.com/">J Roddy Walston and the Business</a>, because this isn't a music blog or anything and in my years as a fan they have not seen it fit to visit CT, so I've been forced to travel to New York and Boston to see them. As we've noted before, it's a good thing Hartford is so "conveniently" located - it only takes a couple-to-several hours and many dollars to reach destinations in either of those cities. We're lucky if cool bands even <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/04/celebrity-sighting-at-whole-foods.html">stop here for snacks</a>. Well, this week I took a walk on the wild side and traveled to Brooklyn on a weeknight to see them play at my new favorite venue, <a href="http://www.brooklynbowl.com/">Brooklyn Bowl</a>, a giant bowling alley/music venue with obscenely portioned food and great beer on tap that plays cult films (like <span style="font-style: italic;">The Warriors</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</span>) projected on the wall and on big screens over the bowling lanes... J Roddy is doing a "residency" there this month, playing every Monday night. You all should go and see them up close and cheap before they are hugely famous and won't be available to humor silly questions while soundchecking their own instruments like "Is there a dollar amount you can tell me that would get you guys to Connecticut?"</div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IpyeX-A_FpQ" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />The band is from Baltimore and they play rock n roll with classic blues and southern influences. They are charismatic as hell, with dirty, catchy lyrics about fucking and fighting, and everyone in the band does what they do really well and they all do all these great backing vocals and falsettos and stuff, but why should I describe it when you can just listen? First time I saw and heard them I walked in on them playing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beX6GF363TI">this song</a> and I was immediately hooked. The room was packed - we couldn't see shit, so I'm not being superficial here, I didn't even know they were handsome for like another year - I turned to my friend and said "OMG I want to sit on their face - METAPHORICALLY"**<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aqaf0L8td58/TdKxdzOufmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/PbEzvoOQelU/s1600/jroddysinging.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607739611555987042" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aqaf0L8td58/TdKxdzOufmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/PbEzvoOQelU/s320/jroddysinging.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 213px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">But before J Roddy played last night, there were these opening bands, and all this idle time. I was already hanging out with more or less the coolest guy in the room (you remember <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-call-that-donut-best-i-ever-had.html">professional donut model Will</a>... omg he always has the craziest work stories like <span style="font-style: italic;">"and so now this beautiful androgynous Dutch chick is totally licking glaze and sprinkles from the contours of my exquisite washboard abs..."</span>), so it's not like I was trying to meet peeps. But then Will disappeared for a bit, and the next-best-looking man in the club happened to sit down near where our group was sitting, so I asked him if he was a fan of the band.</div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx5T5p3QN8g/TdKxdu5rqmI/AAAAAAAAAqk/bW3hAvSZV0Q/s1600/jamie%2Bmclean.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607739610393979490" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx5T5p3QN8g/TdKxdu5rqmI/AAAAAAAAAqk/bW3hAvSZV0Q/s320/jamie%2Bmclean.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">He didn't know them, but knew they were playing Bonnaroo, and his band was playing Bonnaroo, so he was curious... So OK, this guy is really cool, obvs, but I'm really cool too because I dress badly and know more about J Roddy Walston and the Business, who are <span style="font-style: italic;">about</span> to be his favorite too. And then he casually mentioned that his band played with the Allmans, so I was like <span style="font-style: italic;">"blah blah blah...<a href="http://www.mattzeinerband.com/">Matt Zeiner</a>...?"</span> and lo and behold he and I have a mutual friend in Connecticut! And this guy's band, <a href="http://jamiemcleanband.com/">The Jamie McClean Band</a>, is actually gonna be in charming little Colinsville for a gig next month - so it's a good thing he happened to meet Hartford's <a href="http://ctscenic.blogspot.com/2011/04/winning.html">second favorite</a> local blogger, right?!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8oqnDMnH3yU" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">He just happened to have a CD on him (<span style="font-style: italic;">"Is that a CD in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Oh! It is a CD! Give me!"</span>) which I checked out on the ride home. And what do you know, this guy is really good. We've occasionally mentioned how challenging we Scenics sometimes find it to describe art or music that isn't about being tortured or miserable without sounding like we're being insincere. And here I have that challenge again, because this guy reminds me of Steve Miller or the Black Crowes, and I mean that as a compliment, because I grew up on classic rock radio like anybody else my age, and it's rockin and catchy and he has a nice voice and these great guitar solos. A quick Youtube perusal finds him sitting in with everyone from Govt Mule to Blues Traveler to Gavin DeGraw. But is it my fault that reality has conspired to make me identify most closely with songs about boozing up, fucking up and inner rage, and not so much with songs about this great, total package guy who is not at all ashamed of expressing his sexuality and how he loves this chick and isn't trying to keep it on the DL or also go after some other chick? Whatever. I'm looking forward to checking this guy out June 18th at <a href="http://www.41bridgestreet.com/">Bridge Street Live</a>. And don't worry, we'll remind you about it again before then!<br /><br />**(I cannot emphasize enough the importance of saying what you really mean and differentiating between literal and symbolic language, and <a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/van/144733448.html">neither can this guy</a>)</div></div>Katie Scenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17576867232089373600noreply@blogger.com0